Method for controlling the parking process of a hybrid electric vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for controlling the parking process of a hybrid electric vehicle, in particular a mild hybrid electric vehicle, in which an electric motor and an internal combustion engine can act on the drive train at the same time and in which, furthermore, a starter motor is connected to the drive train. The principle of electric parking is to be solved by the invention. In order to achieve this, the electric motor is initially exclusively utilized as the drive for the parking process. When an obstacle is to be overcome in this case, which cannot be successfully overcome solely with the aid of the electric motor, the starter motor is activated.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling a parking process of a hybrid electric vehicle in which an electric motor and an internal combustion engine act on a drive train at a same time and in which a starter motor is connected to the drive train, the method comprising:
 initially during the parking process, exclusively utilizing the electric motor as a drive for the parking process and, responsive to an obstacle impeding the drive for the parking process, activating the starter motor to deliver additional torque for overcoming the obstacle; and 
 responsive to a combined torque of the electric motor and starter motor being insufficient for overcoming the obstacle, activating the internal combustion engine. 
 
     
     
       2. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is supplied by a battery having a voltage greater than a battery which supplies the starter motor. 
     
     
       3. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is supplied by a high-voltage battery having more than 100 volts. 
     
     
       4. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the starter motor is supplied by a 12-volt battery. 
     
     
       5. The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the parking process is a reverse parking process or a forward parking process. 
     
     
       6. A vehicle comprising:
 a drive train; 
 an electric motor and engine each arranged to act on the drive train; 
 a starter motor connected to the drive train; and 
 a controller configured to, initially during a parking process, exclusively utilize the electric motor as a drive for the parking process and, responsive to an obstacle impeding the drive for the parking process, first activate the starter motor to augment the drive for the parking process and then selectively start the engine to further augment the drive for the parking process. 
 
     
     
       7. The vehicle of  claim 6 , wherein the parking process is a forward parking process or a reverse parking process. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle of  claim 6  further comprising an automatic transmission, wherein the parking process is a forward parking process or a reverse parking process. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle of  claim 6  further comprising a manual transmission, wherein the parking process is a forward parking process. 
     
     
       10. A vehicle comprising:
 an electric motor, engine, and starter motor; and 
 a controller configured to, initially during a parking process, exclusively use the electric motor to drive the vehicle during the parking process and, responsive to an obstacle impeding the parking process, first activate the starter motor and then selectively start the engine to further drive the vehicle during the parking process. 
 
     
     
       11. The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the parking process is a forward parking process or a reverse parking process. 
     
     
       12. The vehicle of  claim 10  further comprising an automatic transmission, wherein the parking process is a forward parking process or a reverse parking process. 
     
     
       13. The vehicle of  claim 10  further comprising a manual transmission, wherein the parking process is a forward parking process.